Western Downs Regional Council is pleased to announce that PentaCon Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract for the remainder of the Stage Two Chinchilla Trunk Drainage Scheme, after initial contractor RHA Australia Pty Ltd went into liquidation.

Spokesperson for Works and Engineering Services Councillor Andrew Smith said the remainder of the works are scheduled to commence in the second week of August, with an expected completion date of December 2015.

“Council has allowed a total budget of $2.8 million for the Stage Two project, which includes the completion of the works left over by RHA Australia and will allow for Stage One of the Trunk Drainage Scheme to be linked, finalising the project,” he said.

“The Stage Two works will progress the drain up to Zeller Street with an underground stormwater extension into Wheeler Street.

“The works on Stage One of the project have also recently reached completion, and once Stage Two is complete, the Chinchilla Trunk Drainage Scheme will improve stormwater run-off and assist with some localised flooding issues in the township.”

Cr Smith said that Council is also in the process of arranging remedial works to repair the damage to Stage One.

“After extensive investigations and consultation with a specialist geotechnical engineer, Council is in the process of arranging remedial works to repair the section of Stage One that was damaged as a result of the significant rain events in December 2014,” he said.

“We thank the community for their patience as we’ve worked towards completing the Chinchilla Trunk Drainage Scheme, and we’re confident that the Trunk Drainage will be a long-lasting and sustainable asset so that our communities are safer and better places to live.”

During construction there will be changed traffic conditions in place involving road closures and detours in Zeller Street, Chinchilla, in the vicinity of Southern Cross Care.

Motorist and pedestrians should obey all signage and directions for their own safety and the safety of road workers.